Acetylene-gas-generating apparatus.



Patented Feb. 6, |900.

M. LE MAT.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

(Application led Aug. 3, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

-WITNEEEEE- @VCMQM No. 642,617. Patented Feb. |900.

, m. LE MAT.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

(Application led Aug. 3, 1898.)

' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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No. 642,617. Patented Feb. s, |900.

M. LE MAT. f ACETYLENE GAS GENERATING APPARATUS.

(Application med Aug. 3, 189s.)

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NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAURICE LE MAT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRIC GAS LIGHT COMPANY OF BALTIMORE CITY, OF MARYLAND.

CETYLYENE-GAS-G EN ERTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 642,617, dated February 6, 19.

Application led August 3, 1898.

- following is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus for the production of acetylene gas; and it is the object of the invention to provide for the automatic feeding of successive charges of calcium carbid into water, the feed being controlled by the rise and fall of the gas-holder.

A further object is to provide for the recharging of the apparatus with the carbid without interrupting the action of the apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the gasometer partly broken away to show the interior and the case containing the carbid-compartments and water. Fig. 2 is a plan view, the cover of the carbid and water compartments being rel moved. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views of the .casing containing the carbid-compartments, showing some of the details. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the shaft for releasing the catches which hold the hinged bottoms of the carbid-compartments closed. Figs. 6, '7, 8, and 9 show in detail the catches.

In the drawings the gasometer is shown at A. The lower part has double walls a d forming between a hydraulic seal for the wall b of the bell A', and the latter gives the maximum amount of space within the interior of the gasolneter for the reception=of the gas. i

The gas is generated in one of the chambers B, which are preferably made so that three are inclosed in one case B', as shown in Fig. 2, having one cover C over the three. Leading down to each of the generatingchambers B is an inclined trough D, and this at its upper end contains the series of six receptacles c for carbid, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The apparatus comprising a series of six carbid-receptacles c, three inclined troughs D, and three generatingchambers B are duplicated, as seen in plan view in Fig. 2, and froni each generatingcase B' B2 a discharge-pipe E E leads to the gasometer where the gas is stored, and thus Serial No. 687,605. (No model.)

when it is desired to recharge the receptacles of one feeder and generator B with carbid the gas from the other Jfeeder and generator can liow uninterruptedly into the gasometer. 5 5

The carbid-receptacles employed may be of any number; but I have shown six 'in- Fig. 4, and in operation these bottoms are automatically and successively released or opened in order to feed the carbid to the generating-chamber B. This is done by means of a revoluble shaft f, which extends longitudinally through the inclined troughs of both series, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. The shaft is provided with a number of radiating pins g upon its periphery, one pin being arranged to act on the spring-catch of each receptacle, and in the rotation of this shaft these pins release the hinged bottoms by withdrawing the said catches, and as the pins extend at different spiral points from the periphery of the shaft it will be seen that the action will be successive or progressive and first one receptacle c will be discharged and then after a proper time interval, depending upon the requirements, the opposite receptacle will be discharged, and so on until all the six of one set are reached, and then this action will be continued with the six receptacles in the corre-v sponding case of the next series. The construction of the catches and the manner of their engagement with the hinged bottoms e is such that they will wholly disengage from the bottom and leave the bottom free to suddenly drop or fall, and thereby discharge thev IOO the end of the chain being connected to a lever m, having one end pivoted upon the shaft f and carrying a movable weight n. This lever is provided with a pivoted pawl o, and the pawl engages the teeth of a ratchet-wheel p, which is rigid on the said shaftf. It will thus be seen that when the bell A' lowers as the gas is consumed the weight t', suspended within the tube h by the chain t", will be engaged by the top of the bell and carried down, and thereby will pull upward the lever m and through the pawl and ratchet moves the shaft f, so as to release one of the catches q or q' and cause a charge of carbid to fall into the generating-chamber. As the bell A rises the weight n on the lever causes the latter to be lowered. The weight Q1 in the tube keeps the chain t" from becoming slack and from kinking. The ratchet-wheel p may serve also as an indicator by carrying upon its face a series of numbers or other characters to represent the number of carbid-receptacles, and

this coperates with ya stationary pointer r,

extending down from the frame of the feeder, as shown in Fig. l.

The two discharge-pipes E E' extend first downward and then off laterally and unite, and one pipe E2 enters the base of gasometer A. In order to make the action perfectly safe, I provide in each ot' the pipes E E a valve having an operating-lever s, and by operating one or the other of these levers the supply of gas can be cut oi from one or the other of the generatingcases B' B2, leading to the gasometer, and this combination permits the recharging of the receptacles and chamber cut off without interfering with the flow of gas from the other generator-case to the gasometer. As it might occur, however, that one of these valves by inadvertence on the part of the attendant would rem ain closed after the action of the generating-case controlled thereby was started and an undue pressure thereby be generated in the case, I have overcome this objection by connecting the ends of each lever s with the pawl-lever m by a chain t, and the result of this is that when the pawl-lever m is actuated tofeed a charge of carbid the same operation draws upon both valve-levers s and opens the connection between both of the generating-cases E' B2 and the gasometer. K

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a liquid space or seal e' is provided to receive the edges of the covers C', adapted to fit over the receptacles containing the carbid. The shaft j' is provided with suitable packing where it passes through the walls of the cases.

The hinged bottoms e of the carbid-receptacles are restored to their closed position by a rock-shaft u, having a projecting nger n for each bottom, and this shaft is turned to bring the said fingers t against the bottoms e to close them upward by a rod w, connected by a link with the rock-shaft u.

The spring-catches may be of any suitable form; but I prefer the construction shown in Figs. 6 to 9.

In Figs. 6, 7, and 8 the catch q engages the edge of the hinged bottom e by the shoulder 3, and it is spring-pressed, as at et, being pivoted at 5. This catch is operated by the pressure of one of the pins g on the revoluble shaft f, acting against the trip-lever 6, pivoted at 7 to the bracket 8 and having a lateral pin 9, engaging a slot l0 in the catch q. This catch q is operated through the agency of an independent trip-lever 6, and three of these serve to hold and release the hinged bottoms of those three receptacles at one side, while the direct-acting catches q coact with the hinged bottoms of the three receptacles at the other side.

In Fig. 9 the form of direct catch is shown, the catch part being indicated at q', having a spring 4' and pivoted at 5', and a projection 6 receives the pressure of the pin g to withdraw the catch from its engagement with the edge of the hinged bottom c. Thus the shaft f revolves only in one direction, and the two sets of catches q q' are inversely related.

A safety blow-off device may be provided for the bell of any ordinary construction. (Designated in Fig. l by ll.)

The cases may be readily cleaned by removing the covers C.

It will be seen that in the organization of this apparatus there is combined a gasometer, a duplicate series of receptacle and generating chambers, each series being inclosed in a separate case, and one set of mechanical devices for operating all the carbid-recepta-V cles of both cases, whereby one series of receptacles may be disconnected without interrupting the action of the other series that re-v mains in use, and one set of mechanism only being employed for both series. I may' use three or more series instead of only two.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. An acetylene-gas generator having in' combination a gasometer; a plural number of gas-generating chambers independent of each other; a series of carbid-receptacles for each generating; chamber;- an independent discharge-pipe from each gas-generating chamber to the gasoinetergl valves in both of said pipes each Valve cutting out communication from its gas-generating chamber to the gasometer; and a connection from the gasometer to both of said valves, whereby the lowering of the gasometer will close both valves.

2. In an acetylene-gas apparatus the combination of a gasometer; a series of carbid-receptacles and generating-chambers inclosed in a case; a duplicate series of such receptacles and chambers inclosed in another case; one mechanical device for opening the bottoms of all the carbid -receptacles of both cases to discharge the contents of said receptacles successively; a lever connected with said mechanical device-said lever making IZO a movement when each receptacle-bottom o v opens, a cham, t connecting from the gasometer to the lever; a gas-pipe leading from each of the several generating-cases to the gasometer and a valve in each of said pipes whereby communication may be cut olf between either one or the other of the generating-cases and the gasometer to allow the carbid-receptacles of the case cut-oif to be refilled without disturbing the operation of the other generating-case; and aseparate chain, t, or other connection from both of said cutoff valves to said lever whereby when the bottom of any carbid-receptacle opens to discharge carbid all the gas-pipes from the several generating-cases must be open, thus preventing dangerous pressure.

3. An acetylene-gas generator having in combination, a gasolneter comprising a vertically-movable gas-bell; a vertical tube, h, ze

attached to the gas bell said tube being closed at its bottom and open at its top; a vertically-movable weight in said tube; a gasgenerating case containing a plural number of carbid-receptaclesteach provided with a hinged bottom; a revoluble shaft which releases or opens one bottom after the other of said receptacles; a lever which by a vertical movement causes the said shaft to revolve intermittently; and a chain, e", connecting between the said weight in the tube and the said lever, as and for the purpose set forth. In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MAURICE LE MAT. Witnesses:

CHAHN A. FERGUSON, CHARLES B. MANN, Jr. 

